Self propelled air cushion supported aircraft cargo loading systems and methods

ABSTRACT

A cargo management system is provided comprising an air cushion cargo shuttle, an air cushion cargo shuttle, an air blower configured to blow air beneath the air cushion cargo shuttle and a shuttle drive unit that interacts with a linear guide rail and configured to cause linear motion, wherein the shuttle drive unit is configured for self-propulsion.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to cargo management systems.

BACKGROUND

Conventional aircraft cargo systems typically include various tracks and rollers that span the length of an aircraft. Power drive units (“PDUs”) convey cargo forward and aft along the aircraft on conveyance rollers which are attached to the aircraft floor structure. Cargo may be loaded from an aft position on an aircraft and conducted by the cargo system to a forward position and/or, depending upon aircraft configuration, cargo may be loaded from a forward position on an aircraft and conducted by the cargo system to an aft position. Conventional systems are typically designed to accommodate a particular pallet size. Conventional systems are typically comprised of numerous components that may be time consuming to install, replace and maintain.

SUMMARY

The features and elements described herein may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting

A cargo management system is provided comprising an air cushion cargo shuttle, an air cushion cargo shuttle, an air blower configured to blow air beneath the air cushion cargo shuttle and a shuttle drive unit that interacts with a linear guide rail and configured to cause linear motion, wherein the shuttle drive unit is configured for self-propulsion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a cargo management system, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of a cargo management system, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3A illustrates an air cushion cargo shuttle guide assembly, in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 3B illustrates the underside of an air cushion cargo shuttle guide assembly, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any other possible attachment option.

As used herein, “aft” refers to the direction associated with the tail of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of exhaust of the gas turbine. As used herein, “forward” refers to the direction associated with the nose of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of flight or motion.

Aircraft cargo management systems as disclosed herein allow cargo to be loaded into an aircraft and positioned within the aircraft in a simple, elegant manner. In that regard, aircraft cargo management systems as disclosed herein may reduce part count and associated replacement/wear costs over time.

With reference to FIG. 1 aircraft cargo management system 100 is illustrated using an x, y, and z axes for ease of illustration. Air cushion cargo shuttle 114 and 116 are shown forward of an aft portion of an aircraft. Floor panel 112 is shown beneath air cushion cargo shuttle 114. Floor panel 150 is shown beneath air cushion cargo shuttle 116. As used with respect to air cushion cargo shuttle 114 and 116, the term “beneath” may refer to the negative z direction. Support rails 222 and 224 are shown laterally adjacent to floor panels 112 and 150. Support rails 222 and 224 may be mounted to another aircraft component, such as an airframe, and may be capable of supporting the weight of cargo. Floor panel 112 may comprise at least one of a composite material or a metallic material.

Cargo 202 is shown as resting on support rails 222 and cargo 201 is shown as resting on support rails 224. Cargo shuttle 116 may be used to lift cargo 201 (in a positive z direction) off support rails 224 and move cargo 201 forward or aft.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, air cushion cargo shuttle 116 is shown. It should be understood that air cushion cargo shuttle 114 is similarly structured and thus the features discussed herein relative to air cushion cargo shuttle 116 are also applicable to air cushion cargo shuttle 114. With reference to FIG. 3A, cargo shuttle 116 may comprise a shuttle drive unit 301 (SDU). SDU 301 may be a unit which travels with the cargo down the length of the aircraft. SDU 301 may take any form. SDU 301 may be configured to accelerate and decelerate a load on top of cargo shuttle 116. SDU 301 may be configured such that cargo shuttle 116 is self-propelled. As used herein “self-propelled” may refer to internally producing a force which results in lateral motion. SDU 301 may take the form of a rack and pinion system, where movement of at least one of the rack or the pinion results in movement of cargo shuttle 116. SDU 301 may take the form of a wheel and track. SDU 301 may take the form of a linear motion machine. According to various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 3B, a shuttle drive system is disclosed which comprises a SDU 301 unit and a shuttle drive guide (e.g., the rack, rail, track, and/or the like etc.

on which the SDU 301 rides. According to various embodiments, SDU 301 comprises at least one power drive unit 210.

Power drive unit 210 may be coupled to cargo shuttle 116. Power drive unit 210 may be configured to move the cargo shuttle 116 either forward or rearward, e.g., such as to move a cargo container to a desired location and/or move cargo shuttle 116 to a desired location. Though any desired mechanism for achieving movement may be utilized, according to various embodiments and with renewed reference to FIG. 2, a rack 235 and pinion 230 system may be utilized. For instance, the rack 235 and pinion 230 may comprise a pair of members with interlocking gear teeth that convert rotational motion of pinion 230 into linear motion of cargo shuttle 116 with respect to rack 235. Thus, a generally circular gear referred to herein as the pinion 230 may engage gear teeth on a generally linear gear bar referred to herein as the rack 235. Rotational motion applied to the pinion 230 may impart movement of cargo shuttle 116 with respect to rack 235, thereby translating the rotational motion of pinion 230 into the linear motion of cargo shuttle 116. With reference to FIG. 3B, rotation of a shaft 237 coupled to the pinion 230 is converted to linear motion. The shaft may be rotated by a motor, e.g., power drive unit 210. Power drive unit 210 may be coupled to a power source. The power source may be any desired power source. For instance, the power source may be a battery 370 housed on air cushion cargo shuttle 116 and/or a battery external to air cushion cargo shuttle 114 (not shown).

With continued reference to FIG. 2, power drive unit 308 and roller 306 are shown in air cushion cargo shuttle 114. Power drive unit 308 may drive cargo such as cargo 201, onto and off air cushion cargo shuttle 114. Roller 306 may facilitate movement of cargo 201 with respect to air cushion cargo shuttle 114.

Centrifugal air blower 304 is shown coupled beneath air cushion cargo shuttle 116. Air cushion cargo shuttle 116 may comprise one or more centrifugal air blowers. Centrifugal air blower 304 is controlled by centrifugal air blower controller 322. Air cushion cargo shuttle 114 may comprise one or more centrifugal air blower controllers. In various embodiments, each centrifugal air blower has one associated centrifugal air blower controller, though in various embodiments one centrifugal air blower controller controls multiple centrifugal air blowers. Centrifugal air blower controller 322 may provide power and instructions to centrifugal air blower 304 to control how and when centrifugal air blower 304 operates. Centrifugal air blower 304 comprises inlets 314. Inlets 314 allow the centrifugal air blower 304 to receive air from outside volume 302 and deliver that air to volume 302. In various embodiments, each centrifugal air blower has one associated inlet, though in various embodiments one centrifugal air blower is associated with multiple inlets. In further embodiments, a single inlet may supply air to one or more centrifugal air blowers.

Volume 302 of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 is shown in fluid communication with an outlet of centrifugal air blower 304. In that regard, centrifugal air blower 304 may blow air beneath air cushion cargo shuttle 116 and, more specifically, into volume 302. Volume 302 is shown in proximity to floor panel 150 (with brief reference to FIG. 1).

As shown, air cushion cargo shuttle 116 has four centrifugal air blower controllers 322, 324, 326, and 318 driving four centrifugal air blowers 304, 330, 332, and 334 to blow air into four different volumes 302, 344, 346, and 348. Each centrifugal air blower controller may further comprise a proximity sensor that may be configured to measure the proximity of a portion of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 to floor panel 150 (with brief reference to FIG. 1). For example, location sensors, such as proximity sensors 352, 354, 356 and 358 may be associated with each centrifugal air blower controller 322, 324, 326, and 318. Proximity sensors 352, 354, 356 and 358 may be used in a closed loop control mechanism to modulate the output of four centrifugal air blowers 304, 330, 332, and 334. In that regard, centrifugal air blower controllers 322, 324, 326, and 318 may command four centrifugal air blowers 304, 330, 332, and 334 to blow air into volumes 302, 344, 346, and 348 until the proximity sensors 352, 354, 356 and 358 indicate that a desired proximity has been reached.

Moreover, data from proximity sensors 352, 354, 356 and 358 may be used to detect and compensate for uneven cargo loads. For example, in the event cargo 201 shifts to one portion of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 or otherwise exerts more force on a portion of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 relative to another, data from proximity sensors 352, 354, 356 and 358 may detect that one portion of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 is not as far from floor 150 as one or more other portions of air cushion cargo shuttle 116. In that regard, where insufficient distance from floor panel 150 is achieved, a centrifugal air blower controller may command its associated centrifugal air blower to increase output to compensate for the uneven load.

In that regard, in operation, cargo such as cargo 201 may be loaded onto air cushion cargo shuttle 116 at an aft position. Cargo 201 may be positioned onto air cushion cargo shuttle 116 using power drive unit 308 and roller 306. During loading of cargo 201, air cushion cargo shuttle 116 may be in contact with floor panel 150. Once cargo 201 is suitably positioned on top of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 (where the phrase “on top” in this context may refer to distance across the positive z direction), a control system for centrifugal air blower controller 322 may instruct centrifugal air blower 304 to begin operation. In this manner, air from inlets 314 is pulled into centrifugal air blower 304 and centrifugal air blower 304 blows this air into volume 302. As more air is blown into volume 302, the increased air pressure may act to lift air cushion cargo shuttle 116 apart from floor panel 150. In this context, the phrase “lift apart” may refer to movement of air cushion cargo shuttle 116 in the positive z direction. In various embodiments, the pressure in volume 302 may reach between 1 psi (6.89 kPa) to 10 psi (68.9 kPa), between 2 psi (13.7 kPa) and 6 psi (41.3 kPa), and about 4 psi (27.5 kPa), where the term about in this context may refer to ±0.5 psi (3.4 kPa) .

A control system comprising, for example, a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory may be configured to be in electrical and/or logical communication, such as wired or wireless communication, with centrifugal air blower controller 322. The control system may instruct the centrifugal air blower controller 322 to start, stop, and modulate the output of centrifugal air blower 304.

During operation of centrifugal air blower 304, cargo 201 may lift apart from floor panel 150, thus reducing the friction between air cushion cargo shuttle 116 and the floor panel 150. Stated another way, dry friction may be equal to the coefficient of friction multiplied by the normal force. By eliminating the contact between air cushion cargo shuttle 116 and the floor panel 150, the two surfaces do not interact to cause friction. In various embodiments, there may be contact between air cushion cargo shuttle 116 and the floor panel 150 during operation of centrifugal air blower 304, though the air pressure will oppose the normal force (i.e., force in the negative z direction) exerted by cargo 201 and thus friction will be reduced because of this reduction in the normal force.

With renewed reference to FIG. 2. while cargo 201 is lifted apart from floor panel 150, a force exerted by SDU 301 may cause cargo shuttle 116 to move (e.g., torque exerted by power drive unit 210A, 210B on shaft 237A, 237B may cause pinion 230A, 230B, to rotate, causing cushion cargo shuttle 116 to move linearly with respect to rack 235). The control system may instruct the centrifugal air blower controller 322 to turn off or lower the output of centrifugal air blower 304. In that regard, due to loss of air pressure in volume 302, air cushion cargo shuttle 116 may move in a negative z direction and contact floor panel 150. As air cushion cargo shuttle 116 moves towards floor panel 150, cargo 201 may come to rest on support rails 224. Thus, the air cushion cargo shuttle 116 may separate from the cargo 201 as the cargo 201 is restrained from motion in the negative z direction by support rails 224. A force exerted by SDU 301 may cause cargo shuttle 116 to move from under cargo 201, such as back to a home position. In this manner, air cushion cargo shuttle 116 may be brought aft to load additional cargo. Additional cargo may now be loaded and the process may proceed again.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. 

1. A cargo management system comprising: an air cushion cargo shuttle; an air blower configured to blow air beneath the air cushion cargo shuttle; and a shuttle drive unit that interacts with a linear guide rail and configured to cause linear motion, wherein the shuttle drive unit is configured for self-propulsion.
 2. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air cushion cargo shuttle comprises a pocket.
 3. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the shuttle drive unit comprises a pinion.
 4. The cargo management system of claim 3, wherein the rack and pinion system is driven by a power drive unit.
 5. The cargo management system of claim 3, wherein the pinion interfaces with a rack.
 6. The cargo management system of claim 3, further comprising a floor panel disposed beneath the air cushion cargo shuttle.
 7. The cargo management system of claim 6, wherein the air blown by the air blower is sufficient to separate the air cushion cargo shuttle from the floor panel.
 8. The cargo management system of claim 7, wherein the floor panel comprises at least one of a composite material or a metallic material.
 9. The cargo management system of claim 8, further comprising a support rail.
 10. The cargo management system of claim 9, wherein the support rail is disposed above the air cushion cargo shuttle.
 11. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air blower is a centrifugal air blower.
 12. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air cushion cargo shuttle comprises an air inlet.
 13. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air blower is controlled by an air blower controller.
 14. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air cushion cargo shuttle comprises a roller.
 15. The cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the air cushion cargo shuttle comprises a power drive unit configured for unloading cargo. 